A vast majority (88%) of UK employees regularly experience stress at work, according to new research by ADP.
The research also found that nearly half (43%) of UK employees go even further, saying that stress is a constant factor in their roles and that they feel stressed ‘often’ or ‘very often.’
Encouragingly, 79% of respondents said they feel that their employer is trying to help them manage stress levels.
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“Some level of stress is part of most jobs and, at its best, can make work more dynamic,” said Annabel Jones, HR director at ADP UK.
“However, excessive and frequent stress is one of the biggest threats to a modern workforce, affecting staff morale, productivity and efficiency. Businesses should therefore be alert of how their workforce is feeling and ensure their well-being is maintained.”
The research also found that 31% of respondents perceive a good work-life balance as the top motivating factor at work. This is followed by the ability to work when and where they want (29%) and employee benefits that look after long-term financial welfare (24%).
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It is perhaps unsurprising then that employees are eager to move away from the traditional ‘9-5’ working pattern. More than a third (36%) of respondents to the survey said they would like a mixture of flexible and fixed hours, and another 37% would like to adopt a totally flexible working pattern.
“Over the past few years, we have seen employee attitudes toward work-life balance and the quality of life shift dramatically,” said Leon Vergnes, senior vice president, EMEA at ADP.
“The appetite for flexible working opportunities is on the rise, and we also expect to see an increasing demand for employee benefits that support health and well-being. Employers must ensure that they can respond to these demands and have the support and technology in place to make the change possible.”